Penetron Group, a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems, has announced the successful deployment of its crystalline concrete waterproofing systems across two high-profile hospitality developments in Jeddah: the Mysk Al Wadi Jeddah Hotel and the Hilton Garden Inn Jeddah. Both projects showcase the growing reliance on integral crystalline technology to protect critical below-grade foundations and elevated water-retaining structures in challenging coastal environments.
Adding a major destination to Jeddah’s Red Sea resort district, the Hilton Garden Inn required an advanced waterproofing strategy for its high-risk structural features, most notably an elevated rooftop swimming pool situated directly above luxury guest rooms. To eliminate the long-term failure risks, tearing, and maintenance headaches associated with traditional surface membranes, Penetron Middle East delivered a surface membrane-free integral waterproofing system.
The project team specified Penetron Admix, dosed directly at the batching plant, to transform the structural concrete into a self-healing, waterproof matrix that resists chloride ingress, carbonation, and chemical attack.
Penebar SW-45A swellable waterstop strips and Penebar Primer were applied to seal construction joints and penetrations, while Penetron slurry and Penecrete Mortar were used to address localised cracks and tie holes and to finish any visible defects. Following commissioning and flood testing, the spaces beneath the rooftop pool slab remained completely dry, demonstrating the reliability of Penetron Admix as a standalone waterproofing barrier, says the US-based manufacturer.
The Hilton Garden Inn Jeddah ... Penetron system has been utilised to waterproof its rooftop swimming pool.
“The Hilton Garden Inn in Jeddah is the latest Hilton Hotel project to specify the Penetron System,” states Sam Annous, Managing Director of Penetron Saudi Arabia. “Our integral crystalline waterproofing solution continues to enjoy growing success across the region.”
Mysk Al Wadi Jeddah HoteL
This landmark project follows Penetron’s successful subterranean protection of the 90-room Mysk Al Wadi Jeddah Hotel in the city’s Obhur district.
The five-storey, 90-key property, which opened in September, marks the debut of the Mysk hotel brand within the kingdom. Situated near the Red Sea, the four-star hotel features extensive guest amenities, including conference rooms, dining venues, a fitness centre, and a rooftop pool.
“Due to the depth of the construction site excavation, the project’s general contractor, Faraj Abdulkarim Establishment, needed a robust concrete waterproofing solution to keep the below-grade concrete structures dry,” Annous explains. “We saw the below-grade concrete structures would be exposed to the high groundwater levels at the construction site. Also, the hotel’s close proximity to the Red Sea made resilience against the chloride-rich environment a priority as well.”
Penetron Admix, a crystalline waterproofing admixture, was added to the concrete mix to treat over 2,000 cu m of concrete used for the hotel’s raft foundation, retaining walls, parking floors, and water-retaining structures, including the drinking water tanks and swimming pool. Penebar SW-45A was also specified to permanently seal the construction joints, says the manufacturer.
The active ingredients in Penetron Admix SB react in a catalytic reaction to the moisture in concrete to generate a non-soluble crystalline network throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. This network permanently seals the concrete against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction, even under the constant saltwater exposure prevalent at the Jeddah construction site, he explains.
Annous says the company’s team provided complete technical support to ensure the below-grade structures remain dry and resilient against constant groundwater and saltwater exposure.